Learning to Fly (Christina Aguilera song) explained

Learning to Fly
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Christina Aguilera
Album:PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Music from the Motion Picture)
Released:September 22, 2023
Genre:Pop
Length:2:56
Label:RCA
Producer:
Prev Title:No Es Que Te Extrañe
Prev Year:2022

"Learning to Fly" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from the soundtrack of the animated film (2023). Written by Aguilera and Jeremy Silver Abraham, and produced by Aguilera, Silver Abraham and Pinar Toprak, the song was released on September 22, 2023, as the third single from the soundtrack.

The song received positive reviews. It was praised for its emotional message, Aguilera's vocals and its piano arrangement.[1] Music and film critics considered it a classic "tearjerker".[2]

Background and release

At the end of August 2023, Paramount Pictures and Spin Master Entertainment revealed that the soundtrack of the animated film Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie would feature a song by Aguilera.[3] Cal Brunker, director of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, noted that "When approaching the subject of [the soundtrack], we always start with the artist, looking at it from the perspective of an emotional story. Take Christina Aguilera's song for example: there's a really intense moment about Skye's story in the film, and Aguilera gives a heartwarming display of her vocal skills."[4]

The song was released on September 22, 2023 although promotion was halted due to the 2023 SAG–AFTRA strike.[5]

Composition

The song was co-written by Aguilera and Jeremy Abraham Silver.[3] It was also produced by Pinar Toprak, with whom Aguilera previously collaborated with, on her 2019 residency, The Xperience.[3]

Critical reception

The recording was positively assessed by music critics. A review in Variety called "Learning to Fly" a "tear-jerking ballad" that fits well with "breathtaking, cinematic animation".[6] The editor of That Grape Juice stated that with the ballad, Aguilera "sings an anthem of hope, inspiration and uplift".[7] Dom Fisher, writing for Geek Vibes Nation, appreciated the emotional message of the recording, stating that "it has much more impact than in theory it should".[8] The Toya'z World website hailed "Learning to Fly" as a power ballad whose performer "proves that she can still sing and sound beautiful." The review also praised the song for its "restrained, composed vocals" and "soaring" piano melody.[9] Kyle McGrath, a journalist for Lilithia, praised PAW Patrol 2 for its "great soundtrack", including Aguilera's song.[10] Writing for the LGBTQ-related website Queer.pl, Albert Nowicki noted that: "It's a song about how — in order to fly and fulfill our dreams — we must learn how to take our first fall. Without it, success is difficult to achieve. It is a song that honors the from-zero-to-hero trope, used in popular culture."[11]

Music video

On September 22, 2023, a promotional lyric video appeared online. It premiered on Nick Jr. on YouTube. The clip shows scenes from the animated film Paw Patrol 2.[12]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Indonesia (IFPI)32

Release history

Region! scope="col"
Date Format(s)Label(s)
VariousSeptember 22, 2023RCA[15]
Germany
Italy
France

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saunders . Ashley . 2023-09-26 . "Paw Patrol The Mighty Movie Review: A Family-Friendly Crowd-Pleaser" . 2023-10-23 . With Ashley and Company . 2023-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928231025/https://www.withashleyandco.com/2023/09/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-review/ . bot: unknown .
  2. Web site: Bache . Vaibhav . 2023-09-18 . "Review of 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie': a super powerful sequel" . 2023-10-23 . Cocktail Booz . September 21, 2023 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/rq6js. live .
  3. Web site: Milligan . Mercedes . 2023-08-29 . PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Tunes Up with Tracks from Christina Aguilera, Bryson Tiller & More . 2023-08-30 . Animation Magazine . September 21, 2023 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230921150904/https://www.nimationmagazine.net/2023/08/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-tunes-up-with-tracks-from-christina-aguilera-bryson-tiller-more/ . live .
  4. Web site: Cento . Salvatore . 2023-09-07 . "Exclusive - PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Director and Producer Discuss Pups with Superpowers" . 2023-11-10 . MovieWeb . November 10, 2023 . https://archive.today/20231110110434/https://movieweb.com/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-cal-brunker-laura-clunie-interview/. live .
  5. Web site: 2023-09-24 . "Where does the actors' strike stand?" . 2023-09-26 . The New York Times.
  6. Web site: Howard . Courtney . 2023-09-18 . "'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Review: The Plucky Pups Get a Super-Powered Sequel" . 2023-09-21 . Variety Magazine . 2023-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230920172613/https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-review-1235726049/ . bot: unknown .
  7. Web site: 2023-09-22 . "New Song: Christina Aguilera – 'Learning To Fly'". 2023-09-22. That Grape Juice.
  8. Web site: Fisher . Dom . 2023-09-27 . "'Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Review – Go Go Power Pups" . 2023-10-02 . Geek Vibes Nation . 2023-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928024529/https://geekvibesnation.com/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie-review/ . bot: unknown .
  9. Web site: 2023-09-25 . "Christina Aguilera releases new power ballad 'Learning To Fly'" . 2023-10-02 . Geek Vibes Nation . September 25, 2023 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/PVCCz . live .
  10. Web site: McGrath . Kyle . 2023-09-20 . "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie – Film Review" . 2023-10-04 . Lilithia . 2023-11-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103165103/https://www.lilithia.net/paw-patrol-the-mighty-movie/ . bot: unknown .
  11. Web site: EuroPride 2023: tęczowy koncert Christiny Aguilery na Malcie. Recenzja spektakularnego i queerowego widowiska. Queer.pl. Queermedia. Albert. Nowicki. September 26, 2023. Polish. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/Yzycv. September 26, 2023. July 15, 2024.
  12. Web site: "'Learning to Fly' (Official Lyric Video) PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie". YouTube. September 22, 2023. October 23, 2023.
  13. Web site: "Christina Aguilera's Original Song 'Learning to Fly' from 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie' Released". Film Music Reporter. September 22, 2023. October 14, 2023.
  14. Web site: Christina Aguilera "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie" Song Released. CinemaNerdz. September 23, 2023. October 19, 2023.
  15. Web site: "Learning to Fly – Single by Christina Aguilera". Apple Music — Apple Inc.. September 26, 2023.